Ahtanum Spring 4×4 Snow Run

Ahtanum Spring 4×4 Snow Run
Report by Clay Graham
Photos by Clay Graham and D.J. Scadlock

On April 9th, 2011 the All Wheelers Off Road Club met up at Nasty Creek Corrals to have some snow wheelin’ fun at the Ahtanum State Forest. We ran up to Ewe Neck and found it was not passable because of the snow drifts blocked the road. We dropped back down and tried to get up to Whites Ridge 4×4 Trail but the Mid Fork Road was blocked by a big tree at the two mile marker. We did not have a chain saw with us and we could not go around the tree without causing resource damage, so we turned around. We took Whites Ridge Loop Road up but ran into an off camber snow drift section. Three of the rigs cross but turn around since it was kind of hairy for the whole group. We ran over onto Sedge Ridge and had some fun in the deep snow up there. Around 6 PM or so we came back out the South Fork Road. This was a very fun run. Here are some pictures of the day:

Airing down at Nasty Creek Corrals.
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Heading up Doe Pocket.
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Photo by D.J. Scadlock

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The snow was deep on top of Foundation Ridge.
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Regrouping just before Jackass Road.
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Jeepscum stuck.
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A pull from Havo Jr.
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Colemancooler got stuck so I gave him a pull.
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BlindPilot gave it a try but Ewe Neck was not passable.
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Turning around to run Jackass Road down.
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The snow was soft on one side of the road and it sucked my rig into the ditch.
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BlindPilot telling me to look at the funny guy that was riding with him. Ahtanum Spring 4×4 Snow Run 20
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At the pavement most of us turned and ran the Mid Fork up. Three rigs headed home.

At the 2 mile mark there was a big tree down across the road.
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We did not have a chain saw with us and we could not go around the tree without causing resource damage, so we turned around.

We took Whites Ridge Loop Road on up to this off camber section.
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BlindPilot broke trail through. Foxracer and I followed. Once on the other side we turned around since the vote of the group was to go some place else.
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This was not fun crossing.
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We ran back down and then up Red Saddle to run Sedge Ridge 4×4 Trail.
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The snow was deep and the tree holes were big.
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Foxracer drove out of this hole.
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Up the hill Jeepscum got stuck and had to winch.
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We turned around before the Rocky Climb and headed over to run the South Fork up.

The South Fork Road was a blast. Foxracer kept sliding into the ditch.
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Here these guys are trying to run me over. Ahtanum Spring 4×4 Snow Run 34
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Foxracer in the ditch again.
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Havo Jr. winched Foxracer out after I could not pull him forward.
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Up where South Fork runs onto Sedge Ridge 4×4 trail, BlindPilot got stuck so Havo takes the lead. I follow until Havo got stuck.
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I drove around Havo since Havo Jr. show up to help his old man.
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The drifts were big in the open areas.
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Here I was trying to pass Craigen and I got stuck. Jeepscum tried to back up to help me and also got stuck.
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We took turns winching off the same tree.
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Photo by D.J. Scadlock

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On up everyone was getting stuck. I tried to pull Jeepscum’s rig out and my rig got stuck tied to him.
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Havo tried to pull and winch Jeepscum’s TJ from the rear but that did not work.
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Havo went around to the front and Jeepscum’s TJ came out fine.

Craigen gave me a pull out and we were all on our way back down South Fork Road.

Here close to the pavement of South Fork Road, we aired up for home.
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What a great time thanks to all who came on this adventure!

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